Sewage leak devastates family - Help the Hinton's

We’re looking to raise funds for the Hintons, a Stratford family in crisis,

The Hinton’s house has been badly affected by the recent sewage leak in Scarlet Close. Foul water filled their home coming through the floors and walls, causing severe damp, black mould, and, thanks to the underfloor heating which cooked the sewage for two weeks before dying, an overwhelming smell. Anything touching the walls has been destroyed, furniture, clothing, mattresses, and possessions with incalculable value, such as the kids’ baby blankets, and gifts from their late grandmother and grandfather.

To make matters worth, Mum Anaya, a wheelchair user with complex health conditions and an extremely low immune system, has been very unwell throughout the two months of this crisis. After living in these conditions for over a month, the family were relocated, and, due to the severity of the damage don’t expect to be back within the year. (The building works involve ripping out the walls and the floors, and anything that the sewage water has touched is contaminated and must be disposed of.) To add to this series of unfortunate events, this temporary accommodation has three floors, meaning Anaya is unable to get to her children’s bedrooms, and has to physically leave the building in order to get to the kitchen! The temporary housing also lacks the accessibility adaptations that Anaya needs to be independent, without her through floor lift, hoists, and accessible bathroom, she is reliant on her husband to care for her, reducing the hours he can work.

 To add insult to injury the family had just changed their home and contents insurance, and the leak was discovered a few day's later, meaning that they are completely unable to claim for any of the damage! They have tried to speak with the building management company, with the hope of covering the cost of some of their ruined items, but they refuse to assist, or take any responsibility for the sewage running through their walls and coming up through the floor.

The Hintons have four children, three still in primary school, one working on his GCSEs, and no extended family or support network. The mould spread to their wardrobes and chests of drawers, ruining their clothes, toys, mattresses, and in the eldest’s case, his textbooks and stationary.

This family is an active part of the East Village Community, and have never hesitated to help others in need. Their home should have been their sanctuary over lockdown, a safe place for home-schooling, and a hygienic place for Anaya to focus on her health – but this wasn’t the case. This unexpected upheaval has caused them no end of stress, and the uncertainty as to what they’re going to go back to is exacerbating the situation.

Please help rebuild this household.

Thank you for taking the time out to read this, any donations will be hugely appreciated. If you are unable to donate then Please share the link.